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Procrastination is a serious problem faced by many people when they’re trying to complete everyday tasks and more intense projects. Most people don’t procrastinate on purpose but often face some sort of mental or physical barrier that’s keeping them from getting their work done. Writers may procrastinate because they’re out of ideas, feel stuck, or just don’t have the mental clarity to continue on with a project. If you’re writing a book, procrastinating can mean that you’ll never complete your work if you don’t find ways to get motivated to write. Understanding why you procrastinate may help you find ways to overcome it so you can get back to writing. 

What causes writers to procrastinate? 

Maybe you aren’t sure what to write next, or you’re just distracted. There are many roadblocks that prevent writers from making progress. You may feel frustrated with your work and not know how to improve it. This can leave you feeling dejected, which often means you put off your writing in favor of doing something else. Some authors procrastinate because they worry about being rejected once their work is complete. While these feelings are valid, they’re also detrimental to your efforts.

Moving past procrastination

The best way to counter procrastination is accountability. As an author, you must hold yourself accountable when it’s time to write. Setting reachable goals can help. Some people find that using both short-term and long-term goals provides the motivation to keep going daily and to keep up the writing streak over time as their work continues to progress. Make yourself write, even when you’d rather do something else. Even a few words on paper or screen can urge you to keep going. 

Nearly everyone procrastinates, especially when faced with a difficult or stressful task. While you may enjoy writing, creating a whole book is a huge endeavor. It takes time and effort, and often leaves you much less time to do other things. But procrastinating means it will take you even longer to finish your book. By understanding what causes you to avoid writing and making an effort to hold yourself accountable in meeting your writing goals, you can put in the work needed to finish your book.  

Entrepreneurs are an essential part of the business world. These are the people who enjoy working independently, have ideas to meet a need in the market, and are self-starters. Startups are one method of business operation that has gained in popularity as people look for alternatives to traditional employment. But what makes a startup different from a traditional small business? These two independently owned businesses are similar, but there are key differences that entrepreneurs should understand so they have the information needed to structure their business properly based on their needs and goals. 

What is a startup?

A startup can be a small business, but the goals of those who run a startup are usually different from traditional small business owners. Entrepreneurs with startups often have very lofty goals with ideas to build and expand exponentially in very little time. When compared to most small business owners, who are more focused on maintaining a stable and steady operation, those in startups generally take more risks, hoping for more rewards in less time. 

Is a startup right for you?

It’s important to carefully consider your goals as a business owner before creating a startup. How much risk do you want to take, and how do you picture your future as a business owner? Generally, small business owners start a business to meet a need faced by their target market with expectations of growth, but on a much smaller scale than a startup. Business ownership is always risky, but those with startups often invest more and incur more risks because they’re aiming for significant future growth. Small business owners also want to grow and expand, but the goal is still to maintain that small business model, instead of turning into a corporate enterprise.  

Business ownership comes with many challenges, no matter the structure you choose. Startups are usually created with exponential future growth in mind. However, most small business owners look for a more accessible success that can happen in less time, with less risk, and less potential for financial gain. Your goals, investment capital, and your market can help you determine whether a startup or traditional small business is the best choice.

People often joke about hating Mondays, but anxiety related to starting a new week is a real thing. You don’t always know what to expect with a new week, and this uncertainty can be distressing. Dreading Monday is common among children and adults, and those who work remotely are not excluded. Even though you may have more control over your workweek and more flexibility, heading into a new week can still lead to worry about how that week’s going to pan out. Taking a closer look at why people hate Mondays can help you understand your specific concerns and help you face the new week with a more positive attitude. 

What’s so bad about Mondays?

So, what’s with the shared hatred of Mondays? Some of it comes from the fact that many people spend their weekends doing enjoyable things or at least have a more relaxed schedule on Saturday and Sunday. Returning to the daily grind often means rising early and heading back into work on someone else’s schedule. Even as a remote worker, you likely have a schedule that you must follow on your workdays, which is probably much less relaxed than your weekend schedule.

Avoiding Monday stress

One of the main sources of Monday stress is the worry about the tasks you may face in the coming week. This may come from delaying work on Friday, leaving you to rush to complete work on Monday that could have been done before the weekend. When possible, try to get ahead of your work on Friday so you can face Monday morning on a better note. Your flexibility as a remote worker may afford you some extra leeway when finishing projects before the workweek ends. 

Jokes about the awfulness of Mondays exist for a reason. Starting a new week comes with uncertainty, and Mondays are often stressful as you’re trying to get back into your regular routine. You can, however, avoid some of the stress associated with Mondays by getting your work in order before clocking out on Friday so you can start your week with a more relaxed attitude.

When publishing a book, you have two options. You can go the traditional route and have your book published in a physical format, or you can choose digital publishing. Digital publishing has some advantages, and it can work well for self-publishers, but it’s not the right choice for every author. If you’re considering digital publishing, it’s important that you understand the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision about how best to publish your work. 

Pros of publishing a digital book

• Cost-effective – If you’re self-publishing, digital publishing doesn’t cost as much as traditional publishing. Because you’re not making physical book copies, the process is simpler and doesn’t require as much labor or materials. 
• Time involved – Publishing a digital book doesn’t take nearly the amount of time as publishing a physical book. Because the process is digital, the time from book completion to finished product ready for distribution to readers is significantly less.
• Accessibility – The digital publishing process is accessible to anyone, even those who wish to self-publish instead of working with a publisher. Plus, digital books are easily accessible to readers who may not always be able to access books in print.

Cons of publishing a digital book

• Reader preference – Some readers prefer traditional printed books and don’t enjoy or access digital materials. The feeling of holding a copy of a favorite book in your hand simply can’t be replicated through digital materials. 
• Reputation – While it may be unfair, there is a certain reputation that comes with digital books. Those unfamiliar with the process may think that digital books are inferior or that the author only chose to publish digitally because they couldn’t get a publisher to work with them on creating physical copies. 
• Marketing – When publishing any book, but especially digital work, marketing to the right audience is key in selling as many copies as possible. If you’re self-publishing a digital book, you won’t have the expertise from an established publisher to help you find your audience.

Printing your book digitally has pros and cons. It’s important to consider these when deciding the best route, especially if you’re self-publishing. Consider your target readers and how best to reach them, as accessibility, marketing, and reputation can greatly influence readers when they’re considering which books to read. 

When you complete a manuscript, the next logical step is to have your manuscript edited. The editing process not only removes errors but also cleans up your work so it sounds better to readers. While editing simple spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and grammar issues can easily be completed by an editing program, it takes a human editor to understand your goals and vision. As some authors turn to AI programs to edit their work, it’s important to understand the differences in how AI edits compared to how a human editor works. Once you understand these differences, you’re likely to see the value in working with a human editor. 

They understand tone and intent

AI programs are not usually good at understanding tone or intent. They are limited by their programs and simply don’t yet have the capacity to perform thoughts like the human brain does. A human editor can read and comprehend your work, ask questions, and help you make improvements that align with your tone. They can understand the reason you’re writing and help you create written work that reaches your audience better and provides them with knowledge or entertainment.

Collaboration makes your work better

Collaborating with a human editor means you’re involved in the editing process. When you run your work through an AI program, it will suggest changes, but it doesn’t have the ability to work with you to decide how best to make those changes. A human editor can give you advice and provide you with different ideas on ways to make your work more engaging based on your goals. AI programs will provide you with technical changes, but they simply can’t work in collaboration with you in the same way a human editor can. 

As a writer, you may wish to save time and money by using AI editing software instead of hiring a human editor. While you may have a finished product that’s mostly free of technical errors, using AI editing can mean your work is less engaging or not appealing to your target audience. Working with a human editor allows you to collaborate since they can understand your tone and intent. If you want a well-written final product, you’ll likely find it worth the money and time to hire a human editor. 

One of the most challenging parts of finishing your first book is finding the time to write. Many authors have full-time jobs and family obligations, which often puts writing a manuscript at the bottom of the priority list. If you want to complete your manuscript, you must be intentional about making time to write. If you’re struggling with finding the time to work on your manuscript, the following tips can help you carve out time during your busy schedule so you can complete your work.

Set manageable goals

First, consider how much time you have to finish your manuscript, then work backward. Set goals to write so many words per day or week, or write for a specified amount of time per day. Setting manageable goals helps keep you on track and gives you some guidelines on how to fit writing time into your schedule. 

Replace writing with other tasks

If you want to complete your work within a reasonable timeline, you may have to forgo some of your preferred hobbies. While it’s important not to completely lose yourself in a writing project, replacing some of your leisure time with writing can help you reach your goals. Clear up your schedule by removing unnecessary tasks and prioritizing writing over your hobbies.

Ask for help

Most authors have other obligations that prevent them from writing as much as they would like. It’s nearly impossible to spend all your free hours of the day writing. However, you can seek help from others in your household to free up some time for writing. Your spouse or children may be able to pick up the slack with chores and household tasks, so you can use your time to write. 

Writing your first book can seem like an impossible task when you don’t have a lot of free time. Most authors have jobs, families, and other obligations that keep them from spending much of their time on writing. Try to make writing a priority by setting reasonable goals, focusing on writing above other hobbies, and asking for help. These strategies can help you stay on track so you can complete your work.  

As an entrepreneur, you may face questions from others about the nature of your work or the lifestyle associated with business ownership. You may also face criticisms, especially when starting out. But those criticisms don’t always come from outside sources. Many entrepreneurs find themselves doubting their abilities and questioning whether business ownership is the right choice. Imposter syndrome, where you experience feelings of doubt or inadequacy, can prevent you from finding success as an entrepreneur. Face those feelings head-on so they don’t prevent you from advancing in your career.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome happens when you feel unqualified or fraudulent in your work. It can happen to anyone, but it can be more common among people in creative professions or those working in high-risk environments. As an entrepreneur, you may sometimes feel that you’re impersonating a business owner and may doubt your abilities to do your job well. Some people have feelings of guilt when they find success or worry that they’re not worthy of the good things that come from their accomplishments. These feelings are all valid, but that doesn’t mean you should let them hold you back. 

Seek outside help

As an entrepreneur, you may be tempted to try to do everything yourself. However, involving others in your business can help legitimize your position as an entrepreneur. Be open to advice and constructive criticism from other business owners and those who work with you. Many entrepreneurs have been through similar circumstances and likely had similar feelings of worrying whether they were good enough. Talking to those who’ve overcome imposter syndrome can help you deal with your own feelings of inadequacy.  

Imposter syndrome can leave you doubting your ability to find success as an entrepreneur. Concerns about your worth or qualifications as a business owner can prevent you from taking risks that could reward you in the future. Your feelings are understandable and common, but you must face them directly so as not to let them hold you back in your path toward successful business ownership. 

What can you accomplish in 60 minutes? Could an extra hour first thing in the morning make your workday better? If you use your extra time wisely, an additional 60 minutes can significantly enhance your productivity for the entire day. As a remote worker, you probably enjoy the option of being able to sleep later when compared to the time you’d have to wake up if you had a commute. While sleep is very important, having more time in the morning before you start your workday can set you up for success. If you’re looking for ways to be more productive, consider an earlier bedtime so you can wake up an hour early to get your day started off right.

Deal with distractions

Use your extra hour to deal with things that can distract you from work throughout the day. Whether it’s getting laundry folded or prepping lunch and dinner, doing household tasks before you start your workday can help you concentrate better and get more done. Plus, when you have those tasks done before work, you can use your breaks to eat, relax, or go outside for a quick walk. 

Complete your admin tasks

Think about the easy but important tasks that you do every day to get ready to work. For many remote workers, this may include checking and replying to emails, going through work messages, and verifying meetings or other activities on the calendar. When you have extra time in the morning, you can complete these tasks without feeling rushed, which allows you to schedule your day. 

Clean your work area

While it’s a good idea to clean up at the end of your day, it simply doesn’t always happen. Take 10-15 minutes first thing in the morning to declutter your work area and remove unnecessary items from your space. This step allows you to get straight to work when it’s time to start your workday. 

An extra hour may not seem like much time, but when used wisely, those 60 minutes can set you up for success. As a remote worker, sleeping in may sound tempting, but rising early enough to do chores or admin tasks can make your day go more smoothly. Consistently getting up just 60 minutes earlier than you need to can significantly improve your productivity.